Dickson Emmanuel, 37, a native of Okai Item in Bende Local Government of Abia State is yet to come to terms why fate was so cruel to him. A resident of Aba and an electrician by profession, Emmanuel has a tumour of the mouth known medically as maxillofacial tumour. This ailment which has put Emmanuel out of business for years started as a boil on the right hand side of his face close to the mouth, 11 years ago, in August, 2003. And when after three months instead of the boil to shrink and disappear it continued to grow, Emmanuel on November 15, 2003,
went to the Nigeria Christian Hospital, Nlagu, Obingwa Local Government where the tumour was operated upon. After the surgery, the father of one became all right at that time and was discharged. But surprisingly, in 2007 the tumour developed again and since then, Emmanuel had undergone several surgeries to remove the tumour which has made him not to sleep for years now due to the excruciating pains. Four years after each surgery, the stubborn tumour would resurface and this was attributed to it not being well treated on each occasion. In a bid to get a permanent cure for this recurrent tumour, Emmanuel was directed to the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan in 2012 which he did not hesitate to go.
After thorough medical examination, UCH issued a medical report which was signed by Prof L.I Okeke, a consultant surgeon, Professor of Surgery, department of surgery, Urology division. In the medical report, Emmanuel was said to be having a recurrent maxillofacial tumour which required various modalities of treatment.
This joint treatment would include oral and maxillofacial, plastic and reconstructive and surgical oncologic surgeons as well as the radiotherapist. The report put the estimated cost of the treatment as enunciated above at N3.6 million.
Emmanuel who even when he was fully involved in his trade could not afford such money, was brought to the Aba office of The Sun Publishing Limited where he made a passionate appeal to members of the public for financial assistance to save his life. Through to type, help actually came his way in 2012 as a caring and benevolent mother in Enugu, the state First Lady, Mrs Clara Chime, touched by the report, set out to foot the medical bills of Emmanuel she had not met in life before. Mrs Chime had then quietly paid a specified amount to a designated account of UCH for the commencement of Emmanuel’s treatment, promising to pay the balance of N.6 million as treatment progressed. Her aides later contacted Emmanuel on phone to inform him about the cheering news and the man did not waste time to travel to Ibadan for the commencement of the treatment which started well in 2012. But as the treatment commenced and was progressing well, the devil played a fast one on patient Emmanuel as his benefactor had some issues at home that made Emmanuel to lose her contact and that of her aides and which in turn made the payment of the treatment balance of N.6million impossible.
Meanwhile, at UCH, the recommended surgical operations had all been carried out on the patient and he was to see the radiotherapist for the commencement of the last phase of the treatment when the hospital management discharged Emmanuel. A perplexed Emmanuel, unable to reach his benefactor, the Enugu First Lady due to prevailing circumstances at her home and the hospital management having failed to yield to his pleas, returned home. The result is that the tumour which was almost terminated at UCH, but only waiting a final touch of cure, has resurfaced now and like a wounded lion, in a more devastating form and Emmanuel is the worst hit for it. Emmanuel told Oriental News that for nearly two years now, he has not slept for even a night because of the severe pains he has been having. He equally said the tumour is trying to cover his two eyes and that if nothing is urgently done, he could go blind. Emmanuel needs to start afresh the treatment which cost is now put at N4.5 million. He is, therefore, appealing to public spirited individuals to help him financially to come out of his predicament.
Any such assistance should be sent to First Bank account number: 3088741700, account name: Dickson Favour Emmanuel or he could be contacted on these phone numbers: 002348033906053, 002348062601593 and 002348056864092.
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